39.2% of ninth to 12th graders in Dallas have been offered, sold, or given
an illegal drug, compared with 13.5% of teens in Baltimore (national average:
22.3%).

Wechsler says the survey data don't show exactly why teens in some areas
take fewer health risks than teens in other areas. But he says that state and
local efforts to reduce specific risk behaviors pay off. He points to
anti-tobacco efforts as an example.

"One thing that is instructive is the tremendous difference in resources
different states put into this," Wechsler says. "In some states, teen
tobacco use is much lower than the national rate. And we see this in exactly
those states where they have made substantial investments in tobacco
reduction."

Even Good Teens Take Risks -- What Parents Must Do

If none of this sounds like your teenager, listen to Nancy Cahir, PhD, a
child/adolescent/adult psychologist in private practice in Atlanta.

"What I have seen in my practice is even parents who think it couldn't
happen to their child -- well, it can," Cahir tells WebMD. "Even with
the 'perfect child,' there may be hidden issues; even in good families, bad
things can happen. There is no discrimination when it comes to high-risk
behavior for teens."

Parents have a responsibility to involve themselves in their children's
lives, Cahir says. They cannot assume their teen is doing fine because they
haven't had calls from the school or because their teen's grades are good.